Question reference: S5W-33746
- Asked by: Johann Lamont, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 3 December 2020
-
Current status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 11 December 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-33393 by Fiona Hyslop on 2 December 2020, what it considers to be "inappropriate use of zero hour contracts".
Answer
There are a range of ways in which zero hour contracts might be used inappropriately for example offering a worker minimal job or financial security, or offering a regular pattern of work or hours but only a zero-hour contract. Other examples of inappropriate use would be where a worker has had no say in the zero hours contract and wants a contract of employment guaranteeing a minimum number of hours, or where an employer puts pressure on a worker to accept the terms of a zero hours contract in order to keep their job.
We have commissioned research to better understand young peoples’ experiences of precarious and flexible work (including zero hour contracts) to inform how and in what ways we and our partners can support young people who want to change their circumstances. This research will be published in early 2021.
Although zero hour contracts fall under employment law which is reserved to the UK Government, we are committed to mainstreaming fair work throughout Scotland.